How Long Should a Wheel Bearing Last?

ohreally

You may have grounds for further explanation as there was an official recall for osr hub issues which may affect the bearing and also as a result of a "Focus service campaign"....

NHTSA Identification Number: 01I-017
Number of Vehicles: 238,653
Rear wheel bearing seal race can experience surface corrosion, allowing contamination to enter the bearings

Ford Campaign No.: 01B85
Subject: Rear Wheel Bearings
Models Covered: 2000-01 Focus
Terms: Replace rear wheel bearings through December 31, 2003 regardless of mileage

PE02-016, Closed
Model Year: 2000
Subject: Rear Wheel Bearing Failure
-Rear wheel bearings may fail, causing rear wheel to loosen and separate
from vehicle

There have been lots of recalls for Focus, some for serious issues like suspension collapse, you should check the recall/rectification status of your vehicle.

A_Nice_Englishman

Thanks for that ohreally

I couldn't see anything on https://www.vosa.gov.uk or https://www.ford.co.uk , is there anywhere else I can look online?

The car was serviced by a Ford dealer for the first three years (before I bought it) so hopefully they would have picked these problems up.

ohreally

epninety wrote: »

the handbrake would not adjust up with a loose bearing.

Why not...?

ohreally

http://www.autosafety.org/article.php?scid=&did=309

epninety

ohreally wrote: »

Why not...?

I didn't phrase my previous response very well, but I meant to say it was possible that it wouldn't adjust 'right' rather than not at all i.e. clamps up nicely, but drags when 'off'. A slack bearing means the brake has to pull slightly further from 'no contact' to 'locked on' as it has to pull the hub straight.
I was thinking it's the reverse of the fact that disc brakes can feel soft in a car with loose wheel bearings because of greater pad knock-off... and of course that's with discs, not drums.
So, in short, forget I said it

A_Nice_Englishman

ohreally wrote: »

http://www.autosafety.org/article.php?scid=&did=309

Thanks, but that seems to be an American site so the info is possibly not applicable my British (OK, European) Focus.

harveybobbles

jimbo_the_jetset wrote: »

Foci (Focus'/Focuses?) are renowned for crap wheel bearings. I've got a suspected one on my 03. One garage said it was a bearing, Ford Rapidfit couldn't fault it, still makes a noise and I'm sure it's going but it'll wait if they can't fault it.

Could just be un-even tyre wear, which is common on most cars depending how/where they get driven. Honda Accord's and Saab's are seriously bad at eating rear tyres!

Just a thought...

goldspanners

i have a focus,04 plate took off rear brake drums myself to adjust the shoes for better handbrake,upon removal of the tight drum the bearing collapsed so i had to get a new kit,i got mine cheaper from ebay (genuine ford) but that seemed a fair price for 1 from a dealer.
there is some labour involved as the old bearing shells are incredibly tight to come out of the drum.
my guess is that the bearing collapsed when inspecting your rear brakes,the drum couldnt go back on so the wheel couldnt go back on.either way you would have to have paid them to do the bearing.

nobodys fault really.